Knoxville, Tennessee

Top Spots in and near Knoxville

  • Andersonville, Tennessee

    Norris Dam State Park Campground Trail

    14.6 mi / 2310 ft gain
    Norris Dam State Park Campground Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Rocky Top, Tennessee.
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  • Maynardville, Tennessee

    Photograph the Maynardville Fire Tower

    3.5
    The maynardville fire tower is one that anyone can go too since you can drive straight to the base of it. From the base however there are about 100 steep stairs to the top. On the way up you will need to be extra careful because it is very old and was never built for safety. When you get to the t...
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  • Sevierville, Tennessee

    Drive the Foothills Parkway National Scenic Byway

    4.3
    31.55 mi / 3638 ft gain
    The foothills parkway runs parallel to the Great Smoky Mountains. It is approximately 30-miles in total. There are a few different places to get on to the parkway. There is one entrance near Fontana, Walland, Wears Valley, and Cosby. However Cosby is a smaller section and does not link to the oth...
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  • Oak Ridge, Tennessee

    Hike to North Boundary Quarry

    5.0
    1 mi / 100 ft gain
    The parking at the trailhead is right off of the Oak Ridge turnpike so its very easy to park and there are plenty of spots to park. The trail is very wide and is a great place for taking kids and riding your bike. There are more than one trail that you can take to get to the quarry from the trail...
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  • Tallassee, Tennessee

    Look Rock Tower

    4.8
    0.79 mi / 194 ft gain
    Look Rock tower has spectacular views and is a great hike to enjoy year round. The tower is an old fire tower used for spotting smoke in the valley. Because of this the tower is placed on the highest ridge around making for some amazing views. The only way to get to the tower is along the Foothil...
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  • Gatlinburg, Tennessee

    Hike to Upper Meigs Falls

    5.0
    3.55 mi / 791 ft gain
    Parking available off of Little River Gorge Road (State Hwy. 73) at The Sinks/Meigs Creek Trailhead. The trail starts with winding elevation gain until it crests around 1 mile into the hike (notice pine trees at higher elevation). After the crest it starts descending towards Meigs Creek. While f...
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  • Townsend, Tennessee

    Whiteoak Sinks

    3.0
    4.55 mi / 640 ft gain
    Whiteoak Sinks is an out-and-back trail that provides a good opportunity to view wildlife located near Townsend, Tennessee.
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  • Rutledge, Tennessee

    Buffalo Creek Falls

    4.7
    Buffalo Creek is located near Rutledge, Tennessee and Cherokee lake. It is a wilderness area with a fish hatchery run by TWRA and a few acres of game land. You can drive straight up to the falls then hike around a little bit through the river to see the rest of the river and fishing areas. The be...
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  • Townsend, Tennessee

    Spruce Flats Falls

    4.8
    1.64 mi / 495 ft gain
    To get to Spruce Flats Falls, you will want to drive down 2.2 miles down the scenic Tremont Road to the Great Smoky Mountains Institute and park in the visitor center parking area. You will then want to ascend up the gravel road past the sign that says restricted to unrestricted traffic (meaning ...
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  • Tallassee, Tennessee

    Abrams Falls Trail

    4.6
    4.96 mi / 466 ft gain
    One of the biggest perks of hiking Abrams Falls is the drive to get there. The trailhead is located approximately 5 miles into the scenic Cades Cove Loop. Cades Cove is an adventure in itself. Keep your eye out for black bears, deer and wild turkey. If you are taking the self guided auto tour, Ab...
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  • 35.604955,-83.770373

    Rocky Top

    5.0
    12.61 mi / 3786 ft gain
    Rocky Top is known to be the spot that inspired the famous fight song of the University of Tennessee, which is also an official song for the state of Tennessee.  The trailhead for this hike begins in the Cade’s Cove picnic area parking lot towards the back side. There are a few parking spots ri...
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  • Townsend, Tennessee

    Backpack to Spence Field

    1.0
    13.15 mi / 3261 ft gain
    Start your hike at Anthony Creek Trailhead (elevation 1,800 ft), in the Cade’s Cove area. The trailhead is located at the far end of the day-use picnic area near Cade’s Cove campground. There are a few parking spots right at the trailhead, but note that the picnic area closes at dusk (a gate clos...
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  • Townsend, Tennessee

    Cade's Cove Loop

    4.8
    10.47 mi / 1148 ft gain
    Cade's Cove is a valley located smack in the middle of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Feel free to drive the 11 mile loop in the day, but if you're really cool, you'll schedule your trip around a full moon so you can bike under the light of night! Allow yourself a few hours to explore a...
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  • Sevierville, Tennessee

    Laurel Falls Trail

    4.3
    2.45 mi / 400 ft gain
    This straightforward, yet scenic hike follows a paved trail to the falls, which is among the most popular in the park. This trail can be especially crowded during the summer, so be sure to arrive early. Keep an eye out for a few steep drop-offs on either side of the trail along the way. There ha...
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  • Gatlinburg, Tennessee

    Sugarland Mountain Trail

    12.02 mi / 4715 ft gain
    Starting on the AT at just under 6,000 feet and ending at Fighting Creek Gap, just under 2,300 feet in elevation, the Sugarland Mountain Trail is a grand descent from the high divide of the Smokies. The spruce-fir forest where the trail begins is a remnant of the last ice age, when a cooler clima...
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  • Upper Tremont Road, Tennessee

    Hike to Indian Flat Falls via Middle Prong Trail

    4.5
    7.21 mi / 1102 ft gain
    One of the best trails in the Smokies is the Middle Prong Trail. The trail passes three major waterfalls, in addition to numerous smaller falls, cataracts and cascades. Once you've parked, you'll start at the trail head and immediately see your first cascade. From the trailhead hikers will cro...
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